Yeah, I’m a geek. When I was writing yesterday’s post, I got completely sidetracked for longer than I’ll ever admit because I was digging out all my favourite watermelon-shade glosses and geeking out over each one as though it were the first time I’d seen it. Sheesh.

Some are discontinued or limited-edition shades, so there’s no point getting you excited about those on account you won’t find them easily, if at all. (Club Monaco gloss in Cherub, anyone? I loved it before Monica Lewinsky wore it for her Barbara Walters interview, I’ll have you know. Don’t judge me for having four new tubes stashed away.) However, the following lip delights are on the market now and fit wallets of varying stretch abilities.

Rimmel London Sweet Jelly Lip Gloss in Delicious (10 mL, $6.99) is a sheer, juicy red with high shine and subtle, sweet flavour. Cover Girl Wetslicks Fruit Spritzers (13 mL, $6.99) rank high on my obsession list, particularly Berry, Raspberry and Watermelon Splash. Light in texture and scent, Fruit Spritzers are so lightly tinted they’re almost clear — great for understated types. M.A.C Lip Gelee (15 mL, $16.50) in Glosspitality is another mine-all-mine red tint; Moistly, a deep merlot which goes on like a glossy wine stain, is my go-to for a natural-but-tad-sexy finish.

For the balmy types, Smith’s Rosebud Salve (22 g, $7.50) is a cult-favourite rosy balm; its sister Smith’s Minted Rose Lip Balm (22 g, $9.50) combines peppermint and rose oil and has soft, sheer bitten-lip sheen. Kiehl’s Lip Balm SPF 15 (15 mL, $15) is another favourite. Oddly enough I prefer the original clear (it just makes my lips look healthy), but Hue 58B, a shiny blackberry stain, is beloved by many of my LBD (lip-balm-dependent) friends.

I’ll stop because I’ve just come back from a beauty launch and am all distracted by a new-to-Canada French cosmetics line called By Terry. The glosses are gorgeous, and my clever friend Liza Herz (she writes for Famous magazine; pick one up when you hit the theatre for Sex & the City) has been raving for hours about By Terry’s Baume de Rose which she used to have to get in NYC. I have to go play now.

Kisses!

Rimmel London and Cover Girl are available at drugstores and mass retailers. M.A.C is available at select Bay stores, M.A.C boutiques and www.maccosmetics.com. Smith’s is available at www.delineation.ca, Sephora and www.sephora.com. Kiehl’s is available at Holt Renfrew, Kiehl’s boutiques and www.kiehls.com.